Bent, but not broken

England may have perfected the stiff upper lip during World War II, but this week's ice storm and its aftermath proves that the classic hearty resiliency of New Englanders has not faded in the least.

In the aftermath of the storm, Wachusett residents have had their organizational skills, backbone and threshold for inconvenience (and pain in some cases) tested. They have come through it with remarkable humor, significant dignity and an amazing ability to get done what needs to get done.

There's been, of course, the dominant issue of the storm — surviving without power. Not for a day or two, but for a stretch that is likely to go longer than a week in many areas. For some, the decision was to move in with unaffected family and friends (another lesson of the storm: You know who your real friends are). For some it has been a sometimes far-flung and grinding effort to find a portable generator to maintain the household basics — heat, a refrigerator, the water and a light or two.

Grills have been brought out from summer mothballs to cook for a second (chillier) season. Families are learning just what the essential parts of their homes are. Neighbors have reconnected, whether through a mutual awe while assessing the damage on Friday morning, or sharing vital tips or equipment as the weekend and this week wore on.

No one expected it to be so bad Thursday night, as conditions deteriorated and the rain started to glaze over trees and other surfaces. Throughout the night, the constant pop-pop-pop of tree branches falling and sharp crack of limbs and trunks breaking — almost universally described as "gunfire" — kept homeowners up. At their loudest points, the noise brought people out with flashlights to check on conditions.

But it wasn't until Friday morning that most people realized what had happened. Many found their streets impassable. Few were able to go anywhere without seeing power lines dangling. It was evident almost immediately that this storm wasn't over.

Through it all, though, there have been very, very few reports of frustration boiling over. There have been stories of generators stolen from yards, anxious moments at gas stations and some dark homes broken into, but they are few. Instead, the overwhelming number of stories have included neighbors sharing warm rooms and generators, and providing rides to shelters. Some longtime Wachusett-area residents say they have seen nothing like it. By this point after the Blizzard of '78, power had been on for a few days in most places, and never even went out in others. In terms of destruction, some compare it to a tornado that blew through Rutland, Holden and Paxton in 1953. This is an experience unlike any other.

Someday, Wachusett will look back on this and it will all seem funny. Or at least tolerable. But for now, for thousands of families still without power as we go to press, the mission for families is just to get through it. So far, the region has done it with a communal understanding and helpfulness that is impressive. It's discouraging right now, but hold your head high. You're getting through a difficult time with grace and pride intact. Unlike the trees, the ice storm has not broken you.